The journal of nutrition, health & aging
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Both frailty and cognitive impairment are increasingly prevalent with advancing age. Nonetheless among the oldest old their relationship is poorly described. This study examines the association between frailty status and cognitive impairment at age 85 and their impact on 5-year mortality. ⋯ Among the oldest old, frailty status was significantly associated with cognitive impairment; after adjustment, frailty alone was predictive of subsequent mortality.
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J Nutr Health Aging · Jun 2011
Dizziness as a geriatric condition among rural community-dwelling older adults.
Dizziness is a common symptom in older adults. The majority of those with dizziness tend to have more than one risk factor, suggesting that dizziness is a multifactorial geriatric condition. Therefore, associated factors must be determined to permit risk-reduction approaches. ⋯ Older persons who reported dizziness were more physically frail, with more instances of chronic conditions and sensory impairments, and had poor self-perceptions of their health. Biomedical and psychological factors showed a strong independent association with dizziness. A multifactorial intervention targeting the identified factors would reduce dizziness in older people. However, this approach may need to address different sets of specific factors related to the dizziness categories.
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J Nutr Health Aging · Jun 2011
Generalised and abdominal adiposity are important risk factors for chronic disease in older people: results from a nationally representative survey.
To look at the trends in prevalence of generalised (body mass index (BMI) ≥ 25 kg/m2) and abdominal obesity (waist circumference (WC) >102 cm, men; > 88 cm, women) among older people from 1993 to 2008, prevalence of chronic disease by overweight/obesity and WC categories in England 2005 and evaluate the association of these measures with chronic diseases. ⋯ Complications of obesity such as diabetes, hypertension and arthritis, are more common in men and women aged over 65 who are overweight or obese, as well as in those with a raised WC. These conditions impact on morbidity, mortality and have cost implications for the health service and are known to improve with weight loss even in old age. Treatment strategies to address these conditions such as weight management and prevention of overweight and obesity are important even in older people. There is a need to ensure that older people are given appropriate advice about keeping physically active and eating sensibly.
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J Nutr Health Aging · May 2011
Effect of vitamin D nutritional status on muscle function and strength in healthy women aged over sixty-five years.
Vitamin D insufficiency is common in elderly adults, and leads to secondary hyperparathyroidism, bone loss, muscle weakness, and osteoporotic fractures. ⋯ 25OHD levels ≥20 ng/ml are needed for a better muscle function and strength. Assessing vitamin D nutritional status in adults aged ≥ 65 years would allow correcting hypovitaminosis D and improve muscle function and strength.
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J Nutr Health Aging · May 2011
Predictors of institution admission in the year following acute hospitalisation of elderly people.
The aim of the study was to identify factors related to institutionalisation within one-year follow up of subjects aged 75 or over, hospitalised via the emergency department (ED). ⋯ CGA performed at the beginning of hospitalisation in acute medical wards is useful to predict institutionalisation. Most of the predictors identified can lead to targeted therapeutic options with a view to preventing or delaying institution admission.